Can-sealing machine



ug. 26, 1930.4 H. SEBELL Y CAN -SEALINGr MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 27, 1928 'lgl laa

lnvenTor. SebeH Hurry ne u8 las las Aug; 26 1930.t l H. SEBELL 1,773,758

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed sept. 2v, 192e e sheets-sheet 2 j Fig- 3 lnvncvr. Hurry-Seben A v ATyS'..

Aug. 26, 1930' H. SEBELI.y 71,773,758',

CAN SEALING MACHINE I y Filed sept. 2'?, 1928 Sheets-sheet s :Il l

Invenor.

Hurry Sabe!! bymwkm y Y .Ays.

g. Z6, 930. H, SEBELL CAN SEALING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 \nvc.hor. Hurry Sebel Filed Sept. 27, 1928 ATTyS.

H. SEB-ELL 1,773,758

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig -ug.=2 6,19130.V H. sEBELl. l 1,773,758

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27.' 1928 l l SSheets-Sheet 6 Fgn f lnvenor.

Hurry Sebe'll bymww the scaling of 'the successive cans.

Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES lm'lrzerr orifice HARRY SEBELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ARTI-IUR H. PARKER, 0F

' LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CAN-SEALING MACHINE Application filed September 27, 1928.

This invention relates to can-sealing nia.- chines ot' tlietype which are adapted to seal a can by assembling a can and cover and applying a U-shaped sealing strip thereto.

Une ot' the objects ot' tbe present invention is to provide an improved can-sealing ma- -chine of the above type which is constructed to utilize separate formed sealing strips in y A plnrality of these separate formed sealing strips may be placed in a magazine from which they are fed separately and individually to the cans as the latter' are successively brought into sealing position.

Another object ot' the invention is toprovide an improved sealing machine constructed to seal a can ofthe above-mentioned type in which the sealing flange ot' the can cover lies within the outlines of the can body. In a can ol this` type. the body is formed with an annular rc-entrant portion or groove directlv below the sealing flange with the re.- sult that the exterior diameter of the sealing flange will be no greater than the diameter of the can.

-\s stated above one feature of the invenI tion relates to a novel construction by which a can of this type may be scaled with a U- shaped sealing strip.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally canssealing machines of this type all as will be more fully hereinafter sct t'orth.

In order to give an understanding of thel chine embodying my invention. with certain parts removed to better show the operation; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine; Fig. 3 is a view showing the opposite side of the machine from that. shown in Fig. l and illustrating the strip magazine in section.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of the strip-feeding means for the strip magazine;

Serial No. 308,658.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the feed for the individual strips; l

Fig. T is an enlarged section on the line 7 7, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8 8, Fig. 6; A

Figs. 9 and l() are fragmentaryfsectional views showing the sealing 1ne1nbers,f"Fig. 9 illustrating the position ot' the parts when the cover is lirst inserted into the can and Fig. l0 illustrating the position-otl the parts during the sealing operation;

Fig. ll is a section on the line lil-ll, Fig. l;

Fig. 1Q is a section on the line 12-Q, Fig. 1;

Before describing in detail themachine herein illustrated I will refer briefly to one st vle of can that may be sealed by means of the machine. As stated abovethe machine relates particularly to the sealing of cans by means of a U-shaped sealing strip which is designed to embrace a sealing flange on either the can body or the can cover and to be clamped against the other part. In the construction shown the can cover has a sealing ange which is embraced by the U- shaped sealing strip and during the sealing operation the strip is clamped rrnly onto the sealing flange and also clamped firmly against some part of the can bod) which, in the particular shape of can herein illustrated, is a second sealing flange.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a can comprising a can body 1 and a cover 3 which is formed with an upstanding curb 4 that fits within the mouth of the can and is also formed withf a latera1ly-extending sealing flange 5. The can issealed through the medium of a U-shaped sealing strip which embraces thesealing flange 5 and is clamped against a portion of the can body which, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. is a second sealing flange 2 with which the body is provided and which underlies the sealing flange 5 of the cover. The U-shaped sealing strip 6 is clamped tightly to the scaling flanges thereby to forni the completed seal.

In the can body herein shown the upper end of the side walls of the can directly below the sealing flange 2 are bent inwardly as shown at 200 to form a portion of lsmaller ldiameter than the can body and the sealing fiange 2 extends outwardly from the upper end of the portion 200. With this construction there will be formed a groove 201 around the exterior of the can directly beneath the sealing flange 2 and the latter will be located within the outline of the can body. Furthermore, the can cover 3 is shown as formed with a locking flange 7 which overlies the upper side of the sealing strip 6, said locking flange, sealing strip and sealing flange all being pressed firmly together.

I have herein shown my invention as appliedto a can-sealing machine having means for automatically feeding can bodies 1 and can covers 3 into position to be assembled.

The can bodies 1 are fed into the machine along a runway 8 by any suitable can-feeding means and are delivered into semi-circular holding elements 9 which are mounted on a suitable turret 10. Said turret is given an intermittent rotary movement by which the can bodies are carried around into sealing position. The can covers 3 are also fed into these holders 9 by suitable feeding mechanism.

A pile of covers will be stacked in a magazine 11 and the bottom cover of the stack is fed automatically into the U-shaped holding member which occupies the position shown at 9a in Fig. e. The holding memberis Slightly greater than semi-circular so that when each can cover is forced into a holding member it will be frictionally retained therein.

The turret carrying the holding members 9, 9, etc. rotates clockwise in Fig. 2 and hence as it rotates each holding member carrying a cover will be brought into the position of lt-he holder 9 and while in such position a can body will be fed into the holder directly beneath the cover. At the next forward movement of the turret the cover and can are carried around into the'can-sealing position in which the can body 1 is directly over a table 12 and the can cover is directly under a chuck 13. This mechanism for feeding the can and the cover into sealing position may be such as is usually employed for this purpose and forms no part of the present invention. Hence I do not regard it as necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

The table 12 and chuck 13 are suitably mounted in the main frame 14 by which the operative parts ofthe machine are supported. The relative position of the can body 1 and cover 3 after they are fed into the machine is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The table 1 is mounted for vertical movement and after the can and cover have been fed into sealin position as shown by dotted lines Fig. 1, t e table 12 is raised thereby forcing the can up against the cover and at the same time a follower 15 associated with the chuck 13 is lowered to meet the cover. The cover is then held between the follower 15 and the can and the table continues to move upwardly to carry the cover onto the chuck as shown in Fig. 9 and to force the cover into the can mouth, the follower 15 retreating during this operation. A formed U-shaped sealing strip of the proper length is then fed into a position in which one end thereof will embrace the sealing flanges 2 and 5 and the can is rotated and at the same time the flanges and sealing strip are pressed together through the (fo-operation of two sealing members thereby sealing the can.

The table or can support 12 receives its vertical motion above described through the medium of a cam 16 mounted on a cam shaft 17 that is journalled in the frame 1l. This cam shaft is driven from a power shaft 18 through the medium of a pinion 19 on the power shaft which meshes with a gear 20 on the cam shaft.

The table or can support 12 is mounted on a shaft 21 which is suitably journalled in the frame 14 and is also vertically movable therein This shaft extends through a yoke 22, said shaft having a collar 23 thereon against which the yoke bears. The yoke 22 is connected by a link 24 to one end of a lever 25 which is pivoted at 26 to the frame 14 and carries at its free end a follower 27 which is ada ted to be engaged bythe cam 16.

he cam shaft 17 will make one rotation for each cycle of operations and the cam 16 sealing operation has been completed will be lowered to allow the sealed can to be discharged.

In actual practice cans which are supposed to be of the same size often vary somewhat in height and in order to provide for such variation without injuring -the can l propose to employ a yielding connection between the lever 25 and the yoke 22. Said yoke 22 has pins 28 rising therefrom which extend through a supplementary yoke 29 to which the link 24 is directly attached. Springs 3() encircle the pins 28 above the yoke 29 and are confined between said lyoke and adjustable nuts 30 which are screwed on the pins. The force for lifting the table l2 is thus transmitted through the springs 30 and when operating on a can which is somewhat taller than normal the springs will yield after the can engages the cover and during the last part of the movement of the lever 25 thus preventing any injury to the can.

From the above brief description of the operation it will be remembered that the can and can cover are rotated while the sealing strip is being fed thereto and during the lll sealing operation. This rotary movement of the can is secured by rotating both the table or can support 12 and the chuck 13, these two parts being rotated synchronously during the sealingoperation.

For rotating the table 12 the shaft 21 has a gear 32 splined thereto which meshes with and is driven by agear S3 on. a vertical counter-shaft 84. This countershatt 34 is driven from the cam shaft 1T by a system ot gearing which gives the shaft 34 an intermittent rotation. The cam shat't 1T is geared directly to and drives a vertical shaft through suitable intermeshing gears 36 which may conveniently be spiral gears. This shaft has tast thereto at its upper end a mutilated gear 3T and this mutilated gear co-opcrates with another mutilated gear 3B which is fast on the shaft 34.

The construction ot the gears 3i', 3S is such (see Fig; 11) that during each rotation of the gear 3T the gear 38 will be locked stationary through about three-quarters of the rotative movement ot' the shat't 35 and will be given a complete rotation during the other quarter of the rotative movement of said shaft.

The gears 3G are so proportioned that the shaft 35 will make one complete revolution tor each revolution ot the cam shaft 17 and bythe system ot' gearing above described the shaft 34 Will be given one revolution for each revolution of the cam shat't although the rotative movement ot' the shatt 34 will occur during the time that the cam shaft 1i' or the shaft 35 is making about a quarter of its rotative movement.

The chuck 13 is also positively rotated as well as the table 12, these two elements rotating synchronously. The chuck 13 is rigid with a spindle or sleeve 39 (see Figs. 9 and 10) which in turn is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 40 in the frame 14. This spindle has fast thereon a gear 41 which meshes with and is driven by a gear 42 rigid with the gear 38, (see Figs. 1 and 11). The gears 41, 42 have the same relation as the gears 32, 33 and, therefore, the chuck 13 and the table 12 rotate synchronously, but both sets of gears are so constructed that thetable 12 and chuck 13 will rotate through slightly more than a complete revolution tor each rotation of the shaft 34.

The two sealing members which operate on the sealing flanges of the can cover and can body and press them against the U-shaped sealing strip comprise a rotary-annular menr ber 43 and a rotary sealing wheel 45,V The annular member 4S is provided with an opening 49 of a size to freely permit the can to be inserted therethrough and at its upper portion it has the sealing portion 44 otI reduced diameter and ot a shape to tit into the groove 201 of the can, the upper face of the portion 44 forming a rest to support the sealing flanges during the sealing operation as shown in Fig. 10. f

The sealing wheel 45 is provided with a portion adapted to co--opcrate with the portion 44 of the annular member in-etl'ecting the seal and is also provided with a flange 4G adapted to engage the edge ot the sealing strip and hold the latter in place while the sealing operation is being accomplished.

The sealing wheel is further provided with a guard rib 202 having a bevelled tace and which is located beyond the sealingportion of the wheel. The purpose otl this guard rib 202 will be presently described. l

The sealing wheel 4,5 is positively driven and said wheel 'and scaling member 43 cooperate to seal the can as seen in Fig. 10.

This annular sealing member 43 is freelv rotatable in one end 47 of a slide or carrier 4S. which is slidable back and forth horizontally in ways in the frame 14. Normallv the slide is so positioned that the opening 49 in the annular member 43 is directlyT over the can which is p/m-'itioned on the can support 12 by one ot the holders 9 of the turret 10, so that when the table or can support 12 is given its upward movement to assemble the caii and the can cover said can cover and the upper end of the can will be carried upwardlv through the opening 49 as shown in Fig. 9. At'ter the can cover has been forced intov the mouth of the can then the slide 48 is moved to the left Fig. 9 into the position shown in Fig. 10 therebv to bring the portion 44 of the annular member 43 underneath the flange of the can body, and if the can is of the tvpe having the groove 201 this portion 44 oftthe sealing member 43 will be carried into the groove as shown in Fig. 10 thereby forming a support for the sealingtlangesof the can body' which is-located within the contines thereof.

The sealing wheel 45 is mounted on this slide 48 so that. it also has this lateral movement and by means ot this movement said wheel and theportion 44 ot the annular sealing member 43 are brought into position to act on the sealing flanges of the can and can cover. The sealing wheel 45 is capable ot a vertical movement as well as its rotary movement and it is normally in its raised inoperative position shown in Fig. 9 so that there will be plenty ot space between the sealing wheel andthe portion 44 of the sealing member 43 to receive the nnsealed flanges when the slide 4S is given its lateral movement. Attcr the slide has been given its lateral movement then the sealing wheel is moved downwardly into operative position -shown in Fig. 10 and is positivfdy rotated. letore this is done. however. the U-shaped. sealing strip is fed into position to embrace the sealalso be positively rotated, the combined operation serving to press the sealing fianges and sealing strip together and seal the can as will be obvious.

During the sealing operation the guard lip 202 rides against the corner of the can cover where the curb 4 and locking flange 7 meet and also rides on the face Q03 of the chuck. In so doing said flange contines the metal of the cover to the space between'the rib 202 and the flange 46 and prevents any of this metalfrom flowing over onto the surface :203 by the pressure to which the sealing flanges are subjected during the sealing operation.

The slide 48 is given its operative movement through the medium of a cam 50 carried by tlle cam shaft 17, said cam acting against a follower on one end of a lever 45l pivoted to the frame at 52 and having its upper end connected to a block 53 which in turn is connected to the slide 48 through a connection 54. Said slide 48 is provided with two side portions which are connected by a pin 55 and the-connection is mounted on said pin. The cam 50 will, of course, be. properly timed to give the slide its forward movement at the proper point in the cycle of operations.

The sealing wheel 45 receives its vertical movement from a cam 56 mounted on the cam shaft 17. As herein shown the sealing wheel is rotatable on a stud 57 which is mounted in a lever 58 pivoted on a pin 59 extendingr between the two sides of the slid(l 48. said lever 58 having the hub portion (SO through which the pin extends. At its free end the lever 58 carries a roll 6l which is acted upon by the cam 5G at the proper point in the cycle of operations. D

wWhen the parts are in the normal position shownin Fig. l with the slide 48 retracted the followertil will be out of the path of movement of the cam 5G but when the slide moves forwardly to the left to bring the parts into the position shown in Fig. l0 then the follower 61 is brought to a position to be engaged by the cam 56 which will swing the right hand end of the lever 58 upwardly and thereby moving the sealing wheel 45 downwardly at the proper point in the cycle of operations.

I have stated above that the sealing wheel 45 was positively driven and for this purpose I have provided the following mechanism. This sealing wheel has a gear (32 rigid therewith, which gear meshes with a `gear 63 on a countershaft 64. Said shaft ($4 is provided with a sprocket wheel G5 over which is fast on the sleeve 39. The power for driving the sealing wheel is. therefore, taken from the sleeve 39 which carries the chuck 13.

Inasmuch as the gear 62 has a vertical rocking motion about the stud 59 it will be necessary to back oit theteeth of said gear slightly so that the teeth of the gearsbil, 63 will not bind during such rockin'g motion.

Another feature of my invention relates to a can scaling machine constructed to perform the sealing operation with separate formed sealing strips U-shape in cross section. For `this purpose I have provided a strip-receiving magazine adapted to hold a plurality of separate formed sealing strips U-shape in cross section and each of the proper length to seal a. can and have also provided means for automatically feeding the strips one by one from the magazine to the successive c'ans as they come into sealing position.

The strip magazine is shown as in the form of two pairs of guiding bars 0r members '75 which are carried by two side plates 7G. The bars of each pair are spaced apart slightly to form between them a space 77 of a size to receive one end of each ofthe formed strips. The plates or side pieces 7G are spaced apa-rt a distance equal to the length of the individual strips so that when the strips G are in the magazine they will be confined between the .sides 7G and the ends thereof will be in the guideways 77.

Means are provided for automatically feeding the strips into the guideways 77 and for this purpose I have provided a feed drum 7S which is formed on its periphery with a plurality of blades 79 each having a V-shapcd i edge 8() of a size to lit into the V of the sealiner strips 6. Associated with the feed drum 48 is a hopper Sl into which the strips may be deposited in a miscellaneous manner as shown in Fig. 5.

The feed drum is rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5 and the Vshaped edges S0 are on the forward or leading sides ot' the blades 79. As this drum rotates and each blade enters the lower end of the hopper the strips in the hopper will be agitated or stirred up and as each blade passes through the hopper it will piek up a strip as shown in Fig. 5. In said ligure only a few strips (S have been illustrated in the hopper but it will be understood that in practical operation the hopper will be substantially full of strips so that before each from the blades 79 and delivering them to the guideways 7 7. This dotfer is herein shown as in the form of a rotatable shaft 83 which carriles pins 84- that are adapted to engage the strips as the shaft rotates. The shaft, as shown in Fig. 3 is given a clockwise rotation, its rotative movement being so timed relative to that of the drum 78 that as each strip reaches the upper end of the guideway 77 it will be engaged by the pins 8-1 and will be knocked oil' 'i1-om the blade 79and into the guideway.

The drum 78 is shown as fast on a shaft 85 which is journalled in suitable bearings in the frame and is provided with a driving pulley 86 by which it may be operated. Said shaft carries a gear 87 which meshes with a pinion 88 on the shaft 83 so that the shaft 83 and the drum 78 are driven from the same source of power. With this mechanism, therefore, the individual strips will be picked up on the edges 80 of the bars 79 and deposited in the runways 77 by the iotating pins 84. These blades deliver the strips to the guideways 77 in the proper position to be fed tn the can.

89 is a clearer which has for its purpose to clear the bars of any extra strips which may be caught thereon. If perchance more than one strip is being carried up by any bar the extra strip will be scraped off by the clearer 89 so that as the bars advance toward the top of the guideways 77 each bar will carry a single strip only.

At the lower end ofthe magazine is a plate 94 which is secured to a supporting bar 95 and which has at its front edge a groove 96 of a size to receive a formed sealing strip 6 as shown in Fig. 7. This groove 96 is in line with the guideways 77 of the magazine so thatI the bottom strip in the magazine will lie in the groove 96 in the manner shown in Fi 7.

ilgeans are provided forfeeding the bottom sealing strip of the stack of strips out of the magazine into position to be sealed into a can. This operation is accomplished through the medium of a pick-ott or feeding member 90 which is reciprocable on a suitable guiding member`A 91 forming part of the frame The pick-ofi' or feeding member 90 is formed at one end and along one edge with a groove 92 shaped to receive one end of the bottom strip 6 and it is also provided with Y an inclined finger or projection '93 which is adapted to engage the end o f the strip and enter slightly between the sides thereof as shown in Fig. 6.

The forward movement of the pick-off member 90 will thus push the bottom strip out from the magazine and means are provided whereby such strip when so pushed will be guided into position so that one end thereof will embrace the sealing anges 2 .r and 5 of the can body and cover respectively.

The groove 96 in thefmember 94 constitutes a portion of this guiding means and this groove co-operates withl a guiding iin 97 which fits the hollow of the sealing strip 6 as shown in Fig. 8 and which is situated between tlie delivery end of the magazine and the sealing position of the can. Hence as the sealing strip ismoved forwardly by the pick-off 90, or to the right in Fig. 6, said strip will be forced along the groove 96 and over the fin 97 and these two elements will/hold the strip in proper position so that it will be correctly guided onto the flanges 2 and 5.

In Fig. 6 the strip-feeding member 90 is shown as partially advanced, that is, the strip has been pushed partially out of the magazine. The normal position of the strip when in the magazine and the normal position ofk the pusher90 is shown in dotted lines Fig. 6. At the appropriate time in the cycle of operations the pusher 90 is given a forward movement and during such movement it engages the strip at the bottom of the magazine and pushes the same longitudinally along the guideway 96 and also over the iin 97, the strip being guided by these two parts during its movement. Themovement of the pusher or feeding member 90 is suicient .to deliver the end of the strip 6 into positionto embrace the anges 2 and 5 of the can and can cover and as soon as the strip has reached this position the can is rotated and the sealing members are set in operation to seal the can.. As the can and the sealing members rotate the sealing strip will be drawn from the magazine and laid into position as the can is sealed.

The movement of the member-90 is controlled by means of a cam 98 on the shaft 35, see Figs. 1 and 2. Said cam co-operates with ak lever 99 pivoted .to the frame at 100 and connected by a link 101 to one end of the feed member 90 as shown at 102. The feed member 90 is acted on by a pulling spring 103 which co-operates with the cam 98 inoperating said feed member. The cam gives the feed member its retractive movement while the spring 103 gives its forward feeding movement.

When the. feed member 90 has been fully retracted the finder 93 thereof will be carried beyond the limits of the magazine and the strips in the magazine will move downwardly so that the bottom strip will occupy the groove 96 in the guide member 94. When the pusher member moves forwardly the -`1nger 93 will pick up the bottom strip 6 and deliver it from the magazine into position to embrace the sealing flanges 2 and 5 of the can and into position to be acted on by the sealing members 43, 45.

In order that the pick-off 90 may operateg properly it is,of course, necessary that there should always be a sealing strip 6 at the bottom end of the magazine and in order to ensure that this condition will. always obtain I have provided means for feeding the strips downwardly in the raceway. Such means is in the form of two feeding rolls 205 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which are mounted on a shaft 206 Ihat is carried in two arms 207 that are loosely hungA on the shaft 83. The shaft 206 has an upstanding arm 208 which is connected by two springs 209 with the end of an actuating member 210. This member 210' is pro vided with a slot 212 in which is received a pin 211 carried by the upstanding arm 208, thispin and slotserving to guide the actuatinovmember andhold 1t in position. The memrber 210 is given a reciprocating motion and at each movement toward the right Fig. 3 it will give the feed wheels 205 a partial turning movement.. `These feed wheels rest against the formed sealing strips 6 and such turning movement of the wheels will tend to feed the strips downwardly thereby to main tain a stripat the bottom of the magazine in the groove 96.

The actuating member 210 receives its reeiprocation from a crank pin 213 to which it is connected and which islocated at the upper end of a shaft 214, the latter being driven from the cam shaft 217. For this purpose said cam shaft'hasfast thereon a gear 218 meshing with-a gear 219 and the latter gear has fast theretoa bevelled gear 220 which meshes with a bevelled gear 221 on the lower endof the shaft 214.

,-I have. rovided herein a. safet attachment whichV will lock the feed mem er from movement so long as no cans are being delivered tothe machine but which is rendered inoperative while cans are being properly delivered.` This'safety device is in the form of a latch member 104 which is adapted to engage a shoulder 105 on the slide 90, (see Figs. 2 and 4), and which is carried by a swinging arm 106 pivoted to the frame at 107. The position of the latch is controlled by an inclined cam portion 108 of a can-actuated slide 109 which is guided in suitable guideways 110 and is provided at one end with a shoe portion 111 situated to be engaged by a can body 1 as it is carried around by the turret 10 into sealing position, (see Fig. 4). AThe engagement of any can body with the shoe 111 will force the slide 109 to the left Fig. 4 against the action of the spring 112.

The inclined cam portion 108 of the slide operates between two pins 113 carried by the swinging arm 6 and hence as the slide 109 is moved tothe left Fig. 4 the inclined portion 108 thereof will co-operate with the pins 113 to swing the arm 106 downwardly thereby withdrawing the latch member 104 from the shoulder 105 and releasing the feed member 90. Hence each time that a can is fed into sealing position the latch 104 which holds `the feed member in its rearward position will be released and the feed member will be given a forward movement by the spring 103 thereby feeding the strip into position to be sealed into the can. As soon as the feed member has performed its feeding function the cam 98 operates to restore the feed member to its rearward position in which position it is automatically locked by the latch 104.

It will be understood that after the can passes oft from the shoe 111 the spring 112 will tend to restore the slide 109 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and thereby restore the latch to its operative position but so long as the feed member'is in its forward position the latch will engage the under side of the feed member during its return movement until the feed member has been sufliciently retracted b v the cam 98 to carry the shoulder 105 beyond the latch 104. lVhen this occurs the latch will'immediately move into place and thus lock thefeed member from forward movement until the latch is again released by the engagement of a can with the shoe 111.

The parts are shown in Figs. 2 and 4 with the feed member locked.

With this device, therefore, there will be no feed of a strip 6 unless a can is being presented into position to be sealed.

Another feature of the invention relates to novel means for doiiing the sealed can from the chuck member 13 after the sealing operation has bee-n completed. It will be re- ,r

membered that during the sealing of the can the can support 12 is in raised position and the can is firmly retained between the can support and the chuck 13 which at this time fits into the cover 3.

VVheu the sealing operation has been completedthe table or platform 12 is lowered and at this time the follower 15, which normally is received within a recess 114 formed in the chuck member 13, is forced downwardlv to push the can off from the chuck member. rilhis follower or can-doer 15, as it might be called, is fast on a plunger or rod 115 which is movable vertically through the spindle 39. At its upper end the rod is swivelled in a collar 116, said collar and rod being turnable relative to each other but capable of having no longitudinal movement relative to each other.

This collar 116 is connected by a link 117 to one end of a lever 118 pivoted at 119 to a bracket 120 carried by the frame 14. The free end of the lever 118 has a roll 121 thereon adapted to be engaged by cam projections 122, 123 formed on a disk 124 which is fast on the shaft 35. These cam projections are so arranged that just after the sealing operation has been completed the cam projection 122 will engage the roll 121 and rock the lever 118 thereby giving the can-doiiing member 15 a quick downwardmovement which will doff the can from the chuck. A return spring connected to the lever 118 operates to return the doffer to its normal position. The other cam projection 123 actuates the member 15 just at the time that. the platform 12 is being elevated. As the platform l2 risesio bring thecan body into engagement with the can cover the lam member 123 will force the follower 15 downwardly below the chuck into a position to meet or engage the can cover, this occurring just about the time that the can has been brought up to the cover by the rising movement. ofthe table 12. Hence at this time the can and `cover will be held between the member 15 and the table and as the table continues its upward movement to bring the cover onto the chuck the follower 15 will retreat, the cam 123 having performed its function.

I have stated .above that the turntable 10 was given an'intermittent turning movement. This is accomplished through the following mechanism.

Theshaft has fast thereon a gear 126 ivhich meshes with a second gear 124-l rotatably mounted on a stud 128. The gear 128 has a crank pin 129 to which is connected a link 130 leading to a segmental gear 131. This gear 131 is fast to a sleeve 132 loosely mounted on theshaft 133 of the turret 10. This sleeve 132 has splined thereon a clutch member 134 which .co-operates with a-clutch member 135 that is fast on the shaft 133. The clutch member 134 is capable of vertical sliding movement on the sleeve 132. The connections for driving the segmental gear 131 are such that the rotation of the. gear 12T will simply oscillate the gear 131. The Clutch inembers'134, 135 constitute in eii'ect a ratchet device by which the shaft 133 ivill be ratcheted forward with a step-by-step movement, such movement, of course, being in timed relation with the other movements of the machine. l

The gear 131 meshes with a gear 136 on a shaft 13T by wvl'lic'h the pick-off or feed device for the can covers is operated. This pickoff or feed device, however, is not herein illustrated as it forms no part of the present invention.

lV'hile I have herein illustrated the invention as embodied in a machine which applies a U-shaped sealing strip `to a particular type of can yet it Will be understood that. the inone of whichfhas a fiange to.be embraced by the sealing stri p and the other of which has a portion againstwhich' the sealing strip is clamped, of automatic means to feed'a formed sealing strip of a. length to seal the can inno position vto embrace said ange, and means to clamp the sealing strip to said flange and said portion. y

In a machine for sealing a can, the combination with a can support, of means to present can bodies successively to said support, means to assemble a can cover having a sea-ling flange in sealing relation Witheach can body, automatic means to feed aformed sealing strip of a length to seal the can into position to embrace said sealing` flange, and

means to clamp the strip to said flange and to the can body thereby to seal the can'.

3. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with a can support, of means to present can bodies successively to said support., means to assemble a can cover having a sealing flange y with each can body, automatic means to feed a formed sealing strip of a length to seal the can into position to embrace said sealing flange and to engagethe can body, and means acting on the sealing flange progressively to clamp it to the sealing flange and can body thereby to seal the can.

4. In a machine for sealing a can in Which the can body and cover are p rovided with sealing flanges that are embraced by a sealing strip U-shape in cross-section, the combination with means to assemble in sealing relation a can body and cover eachhaving a sealing flange, of automatic means to feed a formed sealing strip of a length to seal the can into position to embrace said iianges, and means to press the sealing strip and ianges together to seal the can.

"'.Antion is not limited in its application to a `:an having just the shape shown but is adaptable generally for use in sealing a can Where the sealing strip has a general U shape and is adapted to embrace a sealing flange on either the cover or the can body and to be clamped against the other part. Hence it will be understood that various changes can be made in the constructional details of, the device Without in any Way departing from the invention.

I claim: l

1. In a machine for sealing a can by means of a longitudinally-grooved sealing strip, the combination with means to assemble in sealing relation a can body and a cover thereforo. In a can-sealing machine of the class described, the combination with a can support, of means to present can bodies successively to said support, means to assemble a can cover in sealing relation with each can body, automatic means to feed a formed sealing strip of a length to seal the can into position lto embrace the sealing flanges of the can body and cover of each can, and means to press the sealing strip and said flanges together thereby to .seal the can.

6. In a can-sealing machine of the class described, the combination With means to assemble in sealing relation a can bodyiand a cover each having a sealing flanges, a maga zine containing a plurality of separate formed sealing strips U-shape in cross seetion, automatic means to feed a strip from the magazine into position to embrace the sealing flanges of the can and cover, and means to press said fianges and sealing strip together thereby to seal` the can.

7. In a can-sealing machine yof the class described, the combination vvit-h means to assemble in sealing relation a can body and a cover each having a. sealing flange, a magazine containing separateV formedsealing strips U-shape in cross section, means to feed a sealing stri from the magazine and to guide said strip as it is fed into posit-ion to embrace the sealing flanges of the can and cover, and means to press the sealing strip and flanges together thereby to seal the can.

8. In a can-sealing machine of the class described, the combination with means'to support in sealing relation a can body and can coser each having a sealing flange, of a magazine to contain separate sealing strips U-shape in cross section, means to automatically sappy sealing strips to said magazine, means to eed a sealing strip from said magazine into position to embrace the flanges of the can and cover, and means to pressvsaid flanges and sealing strip together thereby to seal the can.

9. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with means to support in sealing relation a can body and can cover each having a sealing flange, of a magazine to contain individual sealing strips U-shape in cross section, automatic means to deliver said sealing strips to said magazine with each sealing strip in a predetermined position, means to feed strips singl from said magazine into position to em race the sealing flanges of a cam supported on the can support, and means to press the flanges and sealing strip together thereby to seal the can.

10. In a machine for sealing a can in which the can body and can cover are each provided with sealing flanges that are embraced by a sealing strip U-shape in cross section, the combination with a can support,.of` a freelyrotatable annular sealing member'surrounding the can on the support and on the upper edge of which the sealing flange of the can rests, of a magazine containing separate sealing strips U-shape in cross section, automatic means to feed a strip from said magazine into position to embrace the flanges of the can and cover, means to rotate the can, and a sealing Wheel co-operating with the annular sealing member to press said flanges and sealing strip together as the can is rotated.

11. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with a can support, of means to present to said support successive can bodies each having a lateral sealing flange, means to assemble in sealing relation with each can body a can cover also having a sealing flange, automatic means to feed a formed sealing strip of a length to seal the can into a position to embrace the sealing flanges of the assembled can body and cover, means to press the seal ing strip and flanges together thereby to seal the can, and means to render tlle strip-feedinor means inoperative upon failure of a can tobbe presented to the can support.

12'. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with a can support, of means to present successively to said support can bodies each having a sealing flange, means to assemble in sealing relation with each can body a can cover also having a sealing flange, normally inoperative means to feed a formed sealing strip into position to embrace the sealing flanges of the can body and cover of each can when supported on the can support, and

are carried into sealing position to render the strip-feeding means operative.

13. In actin-sealing machine, the combination with a can support, of means to present can bodies successively to said support, each body having av sealing flange, means to assemble a can cover in sealing relation with each can body, each cover having a sealing flange` spring-actuated means to feed a sealing strip U-shape in cross section into position to embrace the sealing flanges of the assembled can body andcover, a latch to hold said feeding means inoperative, and.means actuated b v each can body as it is delivered to the can support to release the latch.

14. In a can-sealing machine, the combination with a can support, of means to present can bodies successively to said support, each body having a sealing flange, means to assemble a can cover in sealing relation with each can body when on the support, which cover also has a sealing flange, a magazine containing a plurality of separate formed sealing strips U-shape in, cross section, means for feeding the stripsseparately from the magazine into position to embrace the sealing flanges of the can and cover on the can support, and means to render the strip-feedingmeans inoperative when the supply of cans to the can support fails.

15. In a machine for sealing a can in which the can body has a sealing flange and an annular groove immediately below the sealing flange, the combination with an annular rotatable sealing member having an opening slightly larger than the can body and an annular rib of a shape to fit the groove, of means to support an assembled can and cover in a position in which said rib fits into said groove at one side of the can with the sealing flanges resting on the rib, means to rotate the can, means to feed a sealing strip U-shape in cross section into position to embrace said flanges, and a scaling Wheel cooperating with said sealing member for pressing the flanges and sealing strip together thereby to seal the can.

16. In a can-sealing machine for sealing a can in which the can body has an annular groove at its upper end and a sealing flangey forming the upper Wall of said groove and in which the can cover has a sealing flange overlying that of the can body, the combination'with a rotatable annular sealing member having areduced upper end of a shape to fit the groove of the can, of means to support an assembled can and cover with the reduced means controlled by the can bodies as they portion ofthe sealing member fitting the groove of the can at one side and forming at said point a rest for the sealing flanges, and a sealing Wheel (zo-operating with the sealing member for pressing the flanges toet er. g 17. In a can-sealing machine for sealing a can in which the can body has an annular groove at its upper end and a sealing flange orming the upper wall of said groove and in which the can cover has a sealing flange overlying that of the can body, the combination with a rotatable annular sealinv member having a reduced upper end of a shape to lit the groove of the can, of means to su port an assembled can and cover with the re uced portion of the sealing member fitting the groove of the can at one side and forming at said point a rest for the sealing anges, means to deliver to the can a U-shaped sealing strip which embraces said sealing flan and a rotatable sealing wheel co-o eratmg with the sealing member to press said) fianges l and sealing strip together thereby to seal the 18. In a can-sealing machine for sealing a can in which the can bodv has an annular groove at its upper end and a sealing Hange forming the upper wall of said oove and in which the can cover has a sea 'ng Hange overlyin that of the-can body, the combination Witv a rotatable annular sealing member having a reduced upper end of a shape to fit the groove of the can, of means to sup- 5 port an assembled can and cover with the reduced portion of the sealing member fitting the groove of the can at one side and forming at said point a rest for the sealing flanges, means to deliver to the can a U-shaped sealing strip which embraces said sealing flanges, a rotatable sealing wheel co-operating with the sealing member to ress said flan es and sealing strip together t ereby to seal t e can, means to rotate the can while being sealed,

` and means to rotate the sealing wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY SEBELL. 1 

